Closings

Severe Weather

Stressful jobs that pay badly

The U.S. economy added 236,000 jobs in January, but not all careers are created equal. Here is a list of jobs that are very stressful and low-paying.

Barista

Median pay: $20,300

% who say their job is stressful: 50.3%

Baristas quickly learn that dealing with customers before they've had their morning (or afternoon or evening) cup of coffee isn't always pleasant.

Special education teachers aide

Median pay: $22,700

% who say their job is stressful: 59.3%

Since many aides come to the classroom with little experience, they end up learning on the job and sometimes their working relationship with the teacher -- who is effectively their boss -- can be strained.

Assisted living manager

Median pay: $40,600

% who say their job is stressful: 83.9%

Assisted living managers are constantly juggling the needs of residents and their families, while trying to supervise staff and deal with government regulators.

Mental health case manager

Median pay: $36,100

% who say their job is stressful: 96.4%

As a mental health case worker in Seattle, "I have 25 years of people's stories in my head," said Karen Langer, president of the American Mental Health Counselors Association. "Day-after-day, you're holding everyone else's garbage," she said.

Loss prevention officer

Median pay: $23,000

% who say their job is stressful: 54.3%

Loss prevention officers typically monitor retail floors for shoplifters, watching video screens or walking the aisles. Deciding when to apprehend shoplifters is stressful. A wrong call could bring a lawsuit, but being too hesitant could mean lost inventory.

Day care teacher

Median pay: $24,200

% who say their job is stressful: 60.5%

Working with two-to-six-year olds in public schools or daycare centers, these teachers can put in up to 12-hour days. And the precariousness of the job market is a concern since the current high unemployment rate means more moms and dads are staying home and taking care of the kids themselves.

Veterinarian assistant

Median pay: $25,500

% who say their job is stressful: 72.6%

Dealing with sick people or pets on a day-to-day basis can be emotional and stressful. And with a national median salary of under $26,000, the financial toll can be just as steep.

Public relations coordinator

Median pay: $39,600

% who say their job is stressful: 93.6%

This job is rooted in getting the word out about clients, but often pitches fall upon deaf ears. The journalism field has been shrinking and there are more PR people vying for the attentions of fewer media outlets. Dealing with rejection on a daily basis is common.

Athletic coach

Median pay: $43,500

% who say their job is stressful: 89.2%

In many towns across the nation, sports are an obsession and the pressure to win is high. There are burdens off the field, too. Many coaches feel the pressure to guide young athletes, both on and off the field.

Benefits and payroll administrator

Median pay: $46,200

% who say their job is stressful: 92.9%

Payroll workers not only have to process new employees, promotions, and pay raises, they also have to keep track of new payroll taxes and other changes that may affect pay rates.

Job coach

Median pay: $31,400

% who say their job is stressful: 84.8%

Job coaches help people with physical, emotional or mental disabilities get and keep jobs. They have to juggle field work with a ton of paperwork and the pay is often low, especially for job coaches dealing with emotionally unstable clients.

Chaplain

Median pay: $46,800

% who say their job is stressful: 92.1%

Many chaplains work in hospitals, police departments, fire departments or in the military, where lives regularly hang in the balance. Dealing with everyday grief and trauma proves stressful.